Lifting-jack



S. E. MOSHER.

LIFTING JAGKQ No. 356,486. Patented Jan. 25, 1887.

n. Frrzns, Phohwlilhvgnphor, Wnhinglcn. o. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @rricn.

SAMUEL E. MOSHER, OF OH'ILLIOOTHE, OHIO.

LlFTlNG-AJACK.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,486. dated January25, 1887.

Application filed June 21, 1884. Serial No. 135,583. (ModeLl To all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. Mosnnn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ch llicothe, Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Lifting-Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to ratchet lifting-jacks, its object being toimprove their construction andefficiencyin theseveral particularshereinafter pointed out.

In the jacks of this kind used for heavy work, as in railway service,the ratchet-bars being formed by casting, a relatively considerable liftis necessitated in consequence of the size ot'the teeth required,whereas, the jack being short and operated near the ground and allowingonly a limited scope for lever action, a loss of lever power is theresult.

One objectot my invention, therefore, is to obtain a shorter and morepowerful lift,wh ereby one man is enabled to exert agreater power inlifting without increasing the are of the lever movement or impairingthe strength of the teeth by diminishing their size.

The invention consists in the construction and relative arrangement ofthe lifting-pawls with reference to the ratchet-bar and frame.

Other features of my invention relate to improvements in construction,as hereinafter described, and which are separately applicable also tothe. ordinary kinds of liftingjacks.

Mechanism embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- 1 Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation of apreferred form of my improved jack, taken in the operating plane of thelever; Fig. 2, a vertical cross-section of the same, omitting the lever.Fig. 3 exhibits one of the pawls in perspective and front elevations;Fig. 4., a detached perspective view of one of the dogs removed from itspivot-connection with the lever; Fig. 5, a partial perspective view ofthe lever with dogs attached; Fig. 6, a partial crosssection ofthe'jack-frame, showing the movable pawl-seat and its adjustablebearing; Fig. 7, a detail view of the movable pawl-seat, showing theadjustable holding-cleat; Fig. 8, a side view of a modified form ofpawl; Fig. 9, apartial side elevation of the jack, showing one of thepivoted standards for supportthe lever, with provision for adjustmentstruction and arrangement, the same as in ordiuary lifting-jacks of thischaracter.

The pawls O O operate side by side between the sides of the frame, eachoccupying half the width of the ratchet-bar, and have their teetharranged relatively to each other in echelon, the tooth-angles of onebeing midway be tween those of the other. The pawls are of the generalconstruction shown iirFig. 3, having each a central perforation, 1),preferably of triangular form, as shown, and corresponding side recessesto receive the ceutral prong of the operating-lever. The connectionbetween the lever and pawl is made by means of alifting-dog, 0, Figs. 4and 5, pivoted to the lever, and engaging the pawls by contact at theupper end of its recess b-a connection permitting a pivotal movementenabling the pawl, while retaining parallelism with the rack bar, tomove backand forth from the same in releasing and engaging its teeth,and to allow for the curved path described by the leverconnectioninlifting.

The lever D terminates in three prongs, as

shown in Fig. 10, the dogs 0 0 being pivoted between the prongsas shownin Fig.5. Where pawls of this construction are employed, the lever maybe pivoted directly to the sides of the jack-frame. In connection withthe two pawls thus constructed I employ a. laterallymovable seat, E,which may be shifted in the frame, and takes the bearing of the pawlsalternately upon its raised center. Thus,when the right-hand pawl Ohasraised the rack-bar by a movement of the lever, the seat E is shiftedto the right by pressure or a slight blow on the projecting end, andthen takes the position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, beneath the pawl O,and holds it in its elevated position, thus maintaining the rack-bar.The outer end of the lever is then raised, the opening b being ofsufficient size to permit the dog 0 to drop far enough to allow the pawlO to engage the rack-bar for another lift, which being accomplished, theseat E is shifted to theleft under thepawl C,which in like mannerbecomes a holding-pawl, while the other is again used for lifting.

The seat E, which is preferably formed of steel or gun-metal, rides upona bearing-seat, F, inserted in the frame and resting upon linersf,which, by increase or diminution, adjust the position of the seat E tothe pawls, and afford a means of taking up any lost'motion due to wear.These parts are inclined to the-vertical, as shown in Fig. 7, tocoincide with the line of thrust between the rack-bar and pawls, and theupper limit of the frameopening, through which the seat operates, isformed by a slotted adjustable cleat, a, held by a set-screw upon theoutside of the frame.

The pawl hereinbefore described, having a projection for the pivotalengagement and play of a dog by which it is supported from the lever,maybe employed singly in a jack of the ordinary construction, permittingthe lever to be pivoted directly to the frame, thus dispensing with thepivotal link or standard usually required to support the levertherefrom.

Aslightly-modified construction of thepawl (shown in Fig. 8) may also beemployed either singly or in duplicate, in which the perforation isrectangular, inclined to coincide with the line of thrust, and providedwith a block, (2, carrying pivots for engagement with the lever, andsecured adjustably in the opening by liners e 0, above and below. Theadjustment in this case is for the purpose of aligning the pawl-teeth tothose of the rack-bar within the limit of movement of the lever. With apawl so connected with the lever, the latter is necessarily mounted upona pivotal connection in order to permit a pawl to move away from andclear the rack-bar in descending to re-engage.

In Fig. 9 is shown a lever-supporting standard, G, provided with meansfor adjusting the lever in relation to its support and to its proper arcof movement in relation to the frame. The construction is as follows:The upper end of the standard is extended in two parallel jaws, g 9,between which, as holdinggnides, are arranged bearing-blocks h h,surrounding the pivot 19 of the lever. The bearing-blocks are adjustedin position by liners t t, inserted above and below them, and secured bya pin, 8. The same essential features of construction may be applied toa lever pivoted directly to the frame, parallel ribs, forming guideways,being cast upon the frame and being provided with adjustablebearing-blocks h It.

The llever D (shown in perspective detached in Fig: 10) has the ordinarysockethandle for the insertion of a bar for its manipulation. Thishollow socket is cast with suitable openings, 0, at the under side toprevent accumulation of snow, dirt, or water when standing.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In aratchet lifting-jack, and in combination with the rack-bar thereof, amany-toothed lifting-pawl perforated and having in said perforation adog or lifting-block pivoted to the operating-lever and adapted by suchconstructions and lever-connection to clear and engage the ratchet-barin operation, as set forth.

2. In a ratchet lifting-jack, in combination with the rack-bar,-a pairof lifting-pawls arranged side by side and engaging said rackbar, eachpawl having a recess, and a dog pivoted to the lever operating in saidrecess, sub stantially as set forth.

3. In a ratchet lifting-jack, in combination with the rack-bar, a pairof lifting-pawls arranged side by side and engaging said rackbar and theshifting seat placed in proximity to said pawl, so as to engage and holdone or the other alternately.

4. In a ratchet lifting-jack, a lifting rack bar, in combination withtwo pawls operating side by side to lift the bar by alternate movementsof the lever and a movable pawlseat adapted to be shifted laterallybeneath the pawls alternately and maintain them as holding-pawls,substantially as set forth.

5. In aratchet lifting-jack, the combination of the rackbar, the pawl,and a movable pawl seat relatively arranged, substantially as described,so that the pawlseat may be adjusted to the pawl and the latter to therack-bar, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in aratchetlifting-jack, with the ratchet-bar,pawls, and lever, of the movable pawlseat E, bearing-block F, andadjustab e cleat a, as set forth.

7. In a ratchet liftingjack, the combination of the lifting rack-bar,the pawls C 0, dogs 0 0, and three-pronged lever D, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

8. In a ratchet lifting-jack, in combination with the rack-bar, pawls,and lever, the pivoted supporting-standard G, constructed as shown, andprovided with the adjustable bearing-blocks hand liners z, substantiallyas set forth.

In testimony whereof Ihave hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL E. MOSHER.

XVitnesses:

L. M. I-Iosnn, G. SHAPIELL.

